MICHAEL Grundy's recent article mentioned the Model Dwellings in Deansway.

I was called there one day and met by a little guy I had nicknamed The Octopus who, as usual, grabbed a bit of my uniform and said, hoarsely: "Can you get the Water Board, I ain't got no water!"

Prying myself from his grip, I examined his tap that appeared to be all right.

I decided to have a look outside and found that some enterprising thief had chopped off the Octopus's lead pipe and then banged up the end. The poor old Octopus had been left high and dry.

Another old boy we all knew as Potato Head, mainly because his nut did look a bit like a Jersey potato, He was a thief - but frankly, not very successful.

One night he broke into a club and soon we had surrounded the place. Potato Head could be seen through a window he had broken, sitting at a table, happily consuming a bottle of wine.

"Come out" someone shouted. "We've got you surrounded".

"I'll come out when I've finished this," was his reply.

So we waited patiently for him to finish.

One afternoon in Foregate Street, I saw a guy we knew as Baldie B nick an orange from a shop's display. I quietly went over to feel his collar, but Baldie B saw me and ate the orange, peel and all.

He had eaten the evidence. All I got was the pip...

JOE WALTER, Worcester.